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Recharge your batteries a bit, learn, be inspired. Like it was said, those LI gigs will always be available, especially with TK on your resume.

Get out of your comfort zone. Take the risk. TK all the way.

I have been babying myself all summer, but you are right I do think it would still be nice to not be#1 for A bit more time.
Geting out of my comfort zone is one of my driving forces, just want to make sure it's not at the expense of everything else.
Sound advice I appreciate it

Colin, for me this would be all I would consider. I find myself being bored when I am not learning. Which would def. happen to me if I took the LI job. But I'm at the time in my life were the LI job would be nice. In your shoes/resume I would take the Keller gig.

On the other side I saw a Keller sous on a failing restaurant show. (I think Ramsey's) Just to say that anyone can become lazy and not see a problem with it.

Funny it's the #1 reason I think I got the job, I have been impressive work history as a long-term employee. It was expressed to me the main problem they're having with management is that they become board of the food after a period of time and complacent in their work. I can honestly say this is a problem I have never had, as I mentioned a few posts ago I'm methodical and tenacious when it comes to work.

A good friend of ours worked at Per Se (director of Private Dining , I believe) and had nothing but good things to say about it. She left to work for Ducasse and hated it. TK personally invited her back to work on the Left coast. If that's not high praise for an employer, nothing is. I'd go with Keller even at my age.
And like Chuckles pointed out, the Island will always be there.

Manhattan living ain't cheap though. Last I remember, the only place that was still affordable and somewhat livable was UES above 95th street.

I'd like to hear more about what it costs to live in the city, I have a vague idea but actual numbers from those of you that do it would be helpful. My calculations are that selling my car thus not having a car payment or insurance, adding that $$ To what I pay in rent now would give me 2200 a month, add gas into that, about 2400.00 think that would get me a ok place in the lower east side or west village? I don't need a big space 500 sq would be ok, a but safe one bedroom, no studio would be ok.

Sometimes being forced to simplify is a good thing. Even if it's less money in the short term, there's no way that it can't equate to more money or more options in the future. While you've already got a lot of time in the biz' you've also got a lot of life ahead of you... and even if you only had a few months to live, where would you want to spend it? Perhaps the greatest city/ craziest food scene on earth or it's retarded suburb? Also, when you do look back on your life, which would you regret more for not having taken?

I'm not sure if/how you should tell the HR people about the LI gig though. Might be worth mentioning that you were given an offer out of the blue for 'X' more $$ that you turned down.

Money isn't a good argument for you to take the LI job IMO, and I can't see a single reason that you'd turn down the Keller job, as long as you can afford to live and take care of your commitments.
You are going to regret not taking the Keller job if you don't take it, likely forever. Even with the creative freedom that you're going to have, you won't be creating as much as you will in the city, albeit you probably won't have freedom over your creations.

I guess I'm the sell out in the crowd. I work for $$$ not prestige or love of the game. There comes a time when chasing the Ace is no longer the best move, Of course I can't know your personal stats but I see plenty of prestige working in the city and cracking 100K.
If some one gave you X dollars and you had to invest the whole thing today with a solid tip that one investment would yield vastly more $$ and was a sure thing Vs a risky move that would surely pay less which play would you make?

Thanks guys , lots if good advice here keep it coming. I'm 39 now, I tend to agree with all of you that say "as long as the money is enough to cover my expenses and save a little, that's good enough". Thing is I have a bad feeling that the city job might not quite do that?? I'll know tomorrow, and the way I look at it it will likely cost me about 10 grand to move to the city considering first last months rent security deposit agent fees, not to mention random packing supplies, renting a truck etc. etc.
If anyone is here either lives in the city and/or has lived there recently what would you say the average monthly expenses are? Rent utilities MetroCard all that stuff put together, not counting food entertainment or any of that type of stuff just the raw living costs? My rough guess is more than 3K, around 4K?

Decent 1 bedrooms in The LES & West Village start at 3-4k a month (not including cable/internet, varied utilities) due to the fact they are highly desirable hoods, $2400 can get you a decent 1 Br in other areas, Brooklyn, Queens... Commute from Queens on subway aint bad to Time Warner Center/Per Se.

Long Island is the suburbs, Manhattan is the big city. Which would you rather have, money in your pocket with nothing to spend it on or the Big Apple where you never have enough money. Seriously, that's a tough choice. Your checklist in or first post is a good start. See if you can prioritize the pros and cons and apply some relative points to them. Add up the points and see where they come out. Then throw that in the garbage and go with your heart.